Apparatus and method for securing print media

Abstract

A binding system comprising a spine adapted to be removeably secured within a base and a clip adapted to connect to the spine. The clip may be threaded through the aperture of a leaf to movably secure the leaf to the spine. Further, the spine may be elongated with a pair of mushroom-shaped ends. The base may further include a well having end walls with opposed dimples. The mushroom shaped heads may fit within the dimples to secure the spine to the base. The spine may include an aperture into which at least a portion of the clip may be inserted to secure the clip to the spine. The at least one leaf may be permitted to lie substantially flat upon the base when the spine is secured within the well.

1 . A binding system adapted to be received by a base, said binding system comprising a removeably securable spine for removeably securing said binding system to the base, and at least one clip securably attached to said spine, wherein said clip is shaped to be threaded through an aperture of a leaf to moveably secure the leaf to said spine.  
   
   
       2 . The binding system of  claim 1 , wherein said spine is elongated and further comprises a plurality of mushroom-shaped ends for securing said binding system into the base.  
   
   
       3 . The binding system of  claim 2 , wherein the base further comprises a well having end walls with opposed dimples, said mushroom-shaped heads being adapted to fit in said dimples to secure said spine to the base.  
   
   
       4 . The binding system of  claim 1 , wherein said spine is elongated and further comprises at least one end shaped to engage the base.  
   
   
       5 . The binding system of  claim 1 , wherein said spine is elongated and further comprises at least one end having a concave surface adapted to engage the base.  
   
   
       6 . The binding system of  claim 1 , wherein said spine is elongated and further comprises one mushroom-shaped end for securing said binding system into the base.  
   
   
       7 . The binding system of  claim 1 , wherein said spine comprises an aperture into which at least a portion of said clip may be inserted to secure said clip to said spine.  
   
   
       8 . The binding system of  claim 7 , wherein said spine comprises a pair of apertures and said clip comprises a first leg and a second leg connected by a bite portion, said first leg adapted to be inserted into one of said apertures and said second leg adapted to be secured within the other of said apertures to secure said clip to said spine.  
   
   
       9 . The binding system of  claim 2 , wherein said spine has an interior surface facing toward the leaf and an exterior surface facing away from the leaf.  
   
   
       10 . The binding system of  claim 9 , wherein said exterior surface is substantially curved from side to side, along the length of said spine.  
   
   
       11 . The binding system of  claim 10 , wherein said mushroom-shaped ends are flush with said curved exterior surface of said spine.  
   
   
       12 . The binding system of  claim 9 , wherein said mushroom-shaped ends extend beyond said interior surface of said spine.  
   
   
       13 . The binding system of  claim 1 , wherein the leaf is capable of lying substantially flat on the base when said spine is secured within the base.  
   
   
       14 . A book binding system for use with a base, said binding system comprising: 
 a removeably securable elongated spine having at least a first aperture opposed from at least a second aperture; and,    at least one clip comprising at least first and second legs sized to be received by said at least first and second apertures for securing said clip to said elongated spine said legs having a bite portion therebetween, said at least first and second legs each comprising an extension member extending therefrom, each said extension member comprising a tab terminating with a foot extending therefrom;    wherein said at least first and second legs are secured through said at least first and second apertures.    
   
   
       15 . The book binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said spine further comprises a third aperture adjacent said first aperture and a fourth aperture adjacent said second aperture, said third aperture being opposed from said fourth aperture, each leg of said clip further comprising second tabs terminating with feet extending therefrom, said feet adapted to be secured within said first, second, third and fourth aperture.  
   
   
       16 . The binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said first pair of apertures and said second pair of apertures are spaced from each other along the width of said spine.  
   
   
       17 . The binding system of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated spine includes a first end and a second end, said first end having a first convex head and said second end having a second convex head.  
   
   
       18 . The binding system of  claim 17 , wherein said spine has an interior surface facing toward the leaves of the book and an exterior surface facing away from the leaves of the book.  
   
   
       19 . The binding system of  claim 18 , wherein said exterior surface is substantially curved from side to side, along the length of said spine.  
   
   
       20 . The binding system of  claim 19 , wherein said first convex head and said second convex head are flush with said curved exterior surface of said spine.  
   
   
       21 . The binding system of  claim 18 , wherein said first convex head and said second convex head extend beyond said interior surface of said spine.  
   
   
       22 . The binding system of  claim 18 , wherein said exterior surface of said elongated spine includes a recessed area encompassing said first pair of apertures and said second pair of apertures.  
   
   
       23 . The binding system of  claim 22 , wherein said recessed area includes indicia of information.  
   
   
       24 . The binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said elongated spine includes a first end and a second end, said first end having a concave surface adapted to engage the base.  
   
   
       25 . The binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said elongated spine includes a first end and a second end, said first end having a convex head adapted to engage the base.  
   
   
       26 . The binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one clip is a plurality of discreet clips.  
   
   
       27 . The binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one clip may be disengaged from said elongated spine without deforming said first leg or said second leg.  
   
   
       28 . The binding system of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one clip may be disengaged from said elongated spine by deformation of said tabs.  
   
   
       29 . The binding system of  claim 14 , further comprising a base having a recessed area adapted to accept said spine of said book.  
   
   
       30 . The binding system of  claim 29 , wherein said print media of said book is adapted to lie substantially flat upon said base.  
   
   
       31 . The binding system of  claim 29 , wherein said recessed area of said base culminates in walls having concave portions and said spine includes ends having convex heads such that said convex heads of said spine fit within said concave portions of said recessed area when said spine is placed within said recessed area.  
   
   
       32 . The binding system of  claim 29 , wherein said recessed area of said base culminates in at least one wall having a convex portion and said spine includes at least one end having a head with a concave portion such that said concave portion fits within said convex portion of said recessed area when said spine is placed within said recessed area.  
   
   
       33 . The binding system of  claim 29 , wherein said recessed area of said base culminates in at least one wall having a concave portion and said spine includes at least one end having a head with a convex portion such that said convex portion fits within said concave portion of said recessed area when said spine is placed within said recessed area.  
   
   
       34 . The binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said binding system forms a portion of an interactive learning device.  
   
   
       35 . The binding system of  claim 14 , wherein said feet include tapered portions for encouraging said tabs to deflect when said feet are inserted into said apertures.  
   
   
       36 . The binding system of  claim 35 , wherein said feet extend completely through said apertures.  
   
   
       37 . The binding system of  claim 36 , wherein said tabs are permitted to spring back to their natural position after said feet are inserted into said apertures such that said clip is retained to said spine by said feet.  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus for securing print media comprising: 
 a base;    a removeably attachable elongated spine; and,    at least one clip adapted to be attached to said spine;    wherein said clip may be threaded through apertures provided in print media and secured to said spine to form a book, said book being adapted for attachment into a recess in said base.    
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said spine includes a pair of convex heads and said recess culminates at its extreme ends with concave walls, said convex heads being adapted to fit within said concave walls.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said print media of said book is adapted to lie substantially flat on said base.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said spine includes at least one head having a dimpled portion, said dimpled portion adapted to engage a protrusion extending from said recess to secure said spine to said base.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said spine includes at least one head having a convex portion, said convex portion adapted to engage a concave portion of said recess to secure said spine to said base.  
   
   
       43 . A binding system for a book having a plurality of leaves, said binding system comprising: 
 an elongated spine having a first aperture and a second aperture spaced apart from said first aperture; and,    a clip having first and second legs extending from a bite portion, said first leg having a first foot and said second leg having a second foot;    wherein said first foot and said first leg are adapted to be threaded through apertures provided in the leaves of a book such that the leaves are retained about said clip when said first foot and said second foot are inserted into said apertures of said elongate spine.    
   
   
       44 . The binding system of  claim 43 , wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are spaced from each other along the width of said spine.  
   
   
       45 . The binding system of  claim 43 , wherein said feet are chemically bonded to said spine.  
   
   
       46 . The binding system of  claim 43 , wherein said feet are mechanically bonded to said spine.  
   
   
       47 . The binding system of  claim 43 , further comprising a base having a recessed area adapted to receive said spine of said book.  
   
   
       48 . A method of removably securing a first book comprising leaves of print media bound to an elongated spine having end portions to a well formed in the base of an interactive learning device comprising: 
 placing the elongated spine of the first book into the well of the base such that the spine is removably secured within the well by the end portions of the spine.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said base further comprises a cartridge port for securing a cartridge associated with a particular book therein, said method further comprising: 
 inserting a cartridge into said cartridge port, the cartridge being associated with the first book.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising removing the first book from the base such that the spine is no longer secured within the well by the end portions of the spine.  
   
   
       51 . A method of successively securing a plurality of books comprising leaves of print media bound to an elongated spine having end portions to a well formed in the base of an interactive learning device comprising: 
 placing the elongated spine of a first of the plurality of books into the well of the base such that the spine of the first book is removably secured within the well by the end portions of the spine thereof.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising removing the first book from the base such that the spine of the first book is no longer secured within the well by the end portions of the spine thereof.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising placing the elongated spine of a second of the plurality of books into the well of the base such that the spine of the second book is secured within the well by the end portions of the spine thereof.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising removing the second book from the base such that the spine of the second book is no longer secured within the well by the end portions of the spine thereof.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising placing the elongated spine of a third of the plurality of books into the well of the base such that the spine of the third book is secured within the well by the end portions of the spine thereof.  
   
   
       56 . A method of swapping books from the base of an interactive learning device wherein the books comprise spines having convex end portions adapted to be secured within a well formed in the base, said method comprising: 
 inserting a first book into a well formed in an interactive learning device such that the convex end portions of the spine of the first book secure the book within the well;    removing the first book from the well; and,    inserting a second book into the well such that the convex end portions of the spine of the second book secure the second book within the well.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein each of the first and second books includes a cartridge associated therewith, and the base includes an input port for the cartridge, the method further comprising removing the cartridge associated with the first book from the cartridge input port and inserting the cartridge associated with the second book into the cartridge input port.  
   
   
       58 . A method of swapping books from the base of an interactive learning device wherein the books comprise spines having at lease one concave end portion adapted to be secured within a well formed in the base, the method comprising: 
 inserting a first book into a well formed in an interactive learning device such that the at least one concave end portion of the spine of the first book secures the book within the well;    removing the first book from the well; and    inserting a second book into the well such that the concave end portion of the spine of the second book secures the second book within the well.